Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-04-08
SUSPENSION OF THE LONG AND
SHORT HAUL SECTION.
Criticism OF the Action Of the COnmis-
SfOn-WhAt the COmmissiOners Say
About Ii.

STAR reporter called the attention q Gen.
Bragg to an editorial in Baltimore pap6R to-day,
In Whlch the action OF the Interstate Commerce
commission In suspending for 30 days the long
ana snort maui clause is severely criticised. The
General read the matter carefully, and then said
GOOD humoredly that he judged the gentleman
VINO wrOte 1t was not q lawyer. Newspaper
men, he said, 'are generally very bright fellows
and they can write well, but they are not always
as well qual1ned to give an opinion upon q ques-
ti0n OF law as is lawyer of 25 or 80 years expe
rience before the courts"
He then read from the editorial: 'sThere is rea-
son to believe that such hearing "a careful hear.
ing) has not yet taken place, but that the order,
like preliminary Injunction, was based upon the
petition 1tself,"&c.
"Here, said Gen. Bragg, che gets into very deep
water me matter was very carefully considered.
We had before us the sworn statement of these
folks that the facts were thus and So and that to
enforce this particular part Of the law would ruin
the people. We Investigated the matter far
enough to satisfy ourselves that thorough inves-
tigat,on was necessary and all we did was to give
carefully INTO the case Any ordinary court would
require at least six months before decision could
be reached. To fire right into the railroads and
tne puDnc without trial, would be like highway
manry. we cannot be everywhere at the same
Ilme we cannot in an hour go to Atlanta, to
Sa1Tsg @ f, TO Boston we have to give our.
sworn statement that II this clause goes into
erect these roads will be ruined. We cannot let
1nS I1aa uih Soae anu investigate afterwards Even
Je11r1eS used to give man hearing sometimes
before he sentenced him.
"Our suspension OF this clause pending de-
cls1on does not commit us in any way, and In the
Order We reserve the right to revoke it at any
ume II we should come to q decision before the
ninety days we can revoke the order. There is no
question as to our authority to make the order.
we are unanimous on that point. There never
was q man since Adam was boy who could sit
mere @ Id " washington and tell everything that was
going on In the Union. We have got to travel
about and look into these matters We cannot
decide Of-hand."
COMMISSIONER MORRISON SAID
he had not seen the Baltimore paper editorial and
Commissioner Bragg, who was present when THE
STAR reporter called, explained the charge con-
tained In the editorial
I'VE did investigate" said Col Morrison. eve
investigated sufficiently to satisfy US and we are
the Judges OF the question, under the law. How
rlSon, know how much We Investigated, anyhow?
the subject"
SENATOR SOONER SAYS THE COMMISSION has
BROADER POWERS THAN 1T HAS CLAIMED
senator SpoOner, who is recognized as one of the
oest lawyers OF the Senate, and who has devoted
a goo0 zeal OF study to the subject of regulating
lnter STATE commerce, and particularly to the ex-
lstlng law, said to STAR reporter to-day in re-
gard to the act OF the Commission suspending the
OPo dtionS VI lie IOurJn SecIlOn Tor ninety days,
thaG the board mad not exceeded its legitimate
powers, land" he continued, "a broader power is
louged Id the Commission than 1t has claimed or
exercised" Taking up copy OF the act, he
turned 10 The provision which authorizes the Com
mission, after investigation, to permit a common
carrier 10 charge less for long than for a short
haul, &c, land" the section concludes, "Lhe
commission may from time TO time, prescribe the
extent 70 Whlcn such designated common carrier
may pe renewed from the operation OF this section
Ol tnls act" Under this clause, Senator SpOOner
hOlds, the board has broader powers than it has